[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN MEMORY OF JOE DiMAGGIO, THE YANKEE CLIPPER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kingston). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation lost a bit of its 
soul when the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, waved good-bye for the last 
time. Unlike many, Joe DiMaggio deserved the accolades he received. Joe 
DiMaggio was more than just a great baseball player, I think we would 
all admit. Some argue he was simply the best. Clearly he was one of the 
best. For me and I believe many, it was not the hitting streak, the way 
he glided around the bases, the outfield he roamed effortlessly, or the 
many world championships he helped to secure. Heck, I never even saw 
Joe DiMaggio play. He retired 14 years before I was born. Certainly it 
was on the field where Joe DiMaggio earned his glory but it was off the 
field where he earned his respect and the everlasting admiration of 
millions. Joe DiMaggio lived a life with grace, dignity, integrity and 
humility. This is what I believe made Joe DiMaggio so very, very 
special.
  Over time, celebrities puncture our culture or splash onto the scene 
only to disappear after what seems like a moment. These fleeting 
``stars'' that society grabs and lets go so quickly grab the big 
headlines, go to the best parties, or are seen with the ``right 
people.'' Joe DiMaggio, on the other hand, was timeless. He grabbed a 
part of an era, the World War II generation, that some think is the 
best, and carried it with class until the day he died. Unlike many of 
those celebrities, Joe DiMaggio enjoyed universal love. Why the 
spontaneous standing ovations when he walked into a restaurant 47 years 
after he left the game of baseball? Because the people of this country 
still acknowledge greatness in their own special way. To many, Joe 
DiMaggio represented the wonders and goodness of man and this great 
country, America. You see, to many in this country, our country, 
character still matters.
  Let me also take a moment to pay tribute to that city that Joe 
DiMaggio called home, and the city where Joe DiMaggio was one of its 
favorite sons, New York. In some parts, New York City gets a bad rap. 
That is a shame. New York City is unlike any other city in the world. 
Its pace may be too fast, crowds too large, streets too congested, but 
with all of this comes millions of people who love life, the United 
States of America, baseball and yes, the Yankees. And not necessarily 
in that order. And these folks loved Joe DiMaggio. Mr. DiMaggio 
embraced New York City and made it special and New York City embraced 
Joe DiMaggio and will never let him go.
  And also what Joe DiMaggio represented, son of an immigrant from 
Italy who personified all the goodness of the great contributions 
Italians have made to build this great country. He was proud of his 
Italian heritage but he loved this country.
  When Joe DiMaggio retired from baseball, he still had what others 
would argue is a few good years left. But not for Mr. DiMaggio. He 
walked away because he had standards. History will record those 
standards along with the hitting streak, the grace, the quiet dignity 
and integrity which will forever be the hallmark of one of the greatest 
baseball players of all time. So no more opening days, just memories 
and a celebration of a wonderful life. I wish I could say it ain't so, 
but the Yankee Clipper has set sail.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I guess he will forever be immortalized in a 
song written by the songwriter Paul Simon. In today's New York Times, 
Mr. Simon, in an op-ed piece, talks about those words, ``Where have you 
gone Joe DiMaggio? A Nation turns its lonely eyes to you.''
  Mr. Simon says,

       In the 50's and the 60's, it was fashionable to refer to 
     baseball as a metaphor for America, and DiMaggio represented 
     the values of that America, excellence and fulfillment of 
     duty, he often played in pain, combined with a grace that 
     implied a purity of spirit, an off-the-field dignity and a 
     jealously guarded private life.

  Mr. DiMaggio was truly a great American and will forever be missed.

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